Of course it's not right, legal or moral, but really.....leaving a trailcam in the woods is like leaving hundred dollar bills stapled to a tree. OF COURSE someone's going to take it! That's sadly the world we live in today. If you can't afford to lose it then don't leave it. It's that simple, because the more time it's left in the woods it's not a matter of IF it will be stolen or damaged but WHEN.

I learned that lesson with treestands years ago when I hunted from them. I started making my own hang on's because it was cheaper, and while I didn't like it when one was stolen I just chalked it up as a "cost of doing business" for my hunting.

Today, whatever goes in the woods with me comes out with me except for my footprints.

rthomas4 wrote:Those type of people aren't sportsmen, and they certainly aren't hunters! They are thieves! If they will steal other people's stands, and cameras, imagine what else they'll steal......including game!

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I agreeNo telling what they'd kill/poach etc

"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see farther."

Yeah, these tips are nice. I follow the 2nd "Only use on private land" it's a shame that this happens but Woods Walker is right if you can't stand to loose it don't even bother with them. On public land you are just asking for someone to steal it I don't even put mine near a fence or property line where other hunters may see it and be tempted to hop the fence.

We had two feeders, a ladder stand and a 15" tripod stolen off of land that we leased. The owner said it was likely "locals", but he didn't do anything to keep them off. That was our last year with him. Now we are having people pour stuff in our cameras, steal the batteries and even paint over the camera lens. We are pretty sure who it is but maybe one of our other ones in the area will catch them in the act. There are some pretty sorry people out there. These are the same ones that road hunt and poach from our land.

bigtex wrote:We had two feeders, a ladder stand and a 15" tripod stolen off of land that we leased. The owner said it was likely "locals", but he didn't do anything to keep them off. That was our last year with him. Now we are having people pour stuff in our cameras, steal the batteries and even paint over the camera lens. We are pretty sure who it is but maybe one of our other ones in the area will catch them in the act. There are some pretty sorry people out there. These are the same ones that road hunt and poach from our land.

Post your cameras so at least one camera covers another camera. Hide the back up camera well, like a high branch aimed down to catch whoever is messing with your property. Get them on camera, then call the cops. You can press charges, or not. But you can use jail as a club to get your gear replaced at THEIR expense, and stop the abuse. If they refuse....jail them!!

The only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker is observation. All the same data is present for both. The rest is understanding what you are seeing.